(HOLDREGE, Neb.) - The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s board of directors held their monthly board meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 2) in Holdrege.
The directors approved a contract amendment in the amount of $22,208 to Husker Steel of Columbus, Neb., for completion of the Schilling Bridge project. They also approved the final progress payment estimate for $26,459.
Hydraulic Project Operations Manager Cory Steinke told the board that guardrails are being installed this week, and the bridge should be fully open to traffic by the end of the week. He reported that Gosper County ‘road closed’ barriers were moved over the weekend, and vehicles traveled through the construction zone. Despite recent rain events and the weekend setback, he is confident that the bridge should still open to traffic this week.
The Schilling bridge is located west and upstream of the Johnson Lake inlet on the Dawson/Gosper County line. Construction began this spring as part of the District’s continuing effort to improve aging infrastructure. The total cost of the project was estimated at $684,600. The final cost will be determined when the entire project is completed.
Also at Tuesday’s board meeting:
• Natural Resources and Compliances Manager Mike Drain reviewed the current estimated timeline of the Kingsley Dam refacing project which included a time frame of Spring 2029 as projected start of construction. He reminded directors the schedule is subject to change.
• Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke told the board that the 2025 irrigation season is coming to a close. Rains over the weekend throughout the District allowed most customers to work with their irrigation service specialists and finish the year. Head gates to the Phelps Canal will be closed on Friday and canal drawdown water will be available to those who request it.
• Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation was at 3,220 feet on Tuesday (41.4%). Inflows are around 1300 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is up 625 cfs from one week ago. Outflows are about 1400 cfs which is down 800 cfs from a week ago and he stated they would continue to drop.
• Thulin told the board that the Jeffrey Reservoir drawdown began on Sept. 2 and would drop the elevation around 7-8 feet for the planned hydroplant outage that is scheduled for Sept. 9-15. Johnson Lake will begin to drawdown next Monday and drop 8-9 feet for the boat ramp construction project. Water levels should return to normal by early October.
###